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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have hinted they are planning more quasi-royal African tours in future after thanking Nigeria for the ‘first of many memorable trips’.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been flying back to California after leaving Abuja yesterday following a three-day visit to the country at the military’s invitation.
And the couple hailed their time in Nigeria as ‘unforgettable’ in a press release on Sussex.com today following the visit related to Harry’s Invictus Games competition.
Their statement added: ‘The Duke and Duchess would like to extend their deepest gratitude to all the event organisers, military officials and the whole Nigerian community for their tremendous hospitality and the first of many memorable trips.’
But the Sussexes did not mention the news emerging overnight that their Archewell Foundation was listed as ‘delinquent’ by a US charity regulator. Sources close to the couple claimed today that this was because state officials did not process a cheque.
The couple hailed their time in Nigeria as ‘unforgettable’ in a press release on Sussex.com
There have been eight press releases on Sussex.com about the couple’s Nigeria trip which took them to Abuja and Lagos and ran last week from Friday until Sunday.
Harry and Meghan are thought to have flown from Abuja to London Heathrow yesterday before heading onto Los Angeles to be reunited with their children Archie and Lilibet.
Today, in a press release about their trip coming to end, the Sussexes referred to the reception they received in Lagos and their attendance at a polo match.
The statement said: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex concluded their unforgettable trip to Nigeria with a cultural reception in Lagos and a polo match fundraiser for Nigeria: Unconquered.
‘The couple was greeted with a beautiful pre-game parade – a vibrant display of young enthusiasts in polo gear, proudly waving the green and white flags of Nigeria – followed by a procession of older children on horseback, setting the tone for a day filled with sport and spirit.
‘The friendly rivalry between the teams, aptly named Duke vs Duchess, added a layer of excitement to the event, with the Duchess’s team claiming victory with a score of 5-3. The day was capped off with the couple presenting medals, a gesture of appreciation for the players’ prolific talent and dedication.
Harry and Meghan following a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Nigeria on May 12
‘The Duke and Duchess would like to extend their deepest gratitude to all the event organisers, military officials and the whole Nigerian community for their tremendous hospitality and the first of many memorable trips.’
It follows Harry and Meghan’s visit to the country to promote mental health for soldiers and empower young people.
The couple attended events related to Harry’s Invictus Games, which Nigeria is seeking to host in future.
The Sussexes were also welcomed at the Lagos State Government House and met military officials at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Following their trip, sources close to Harry and Meghan claimed today that the Archewell Foundation was branded ‘delinquent’ because state officials did not process a $200 (£160) cheque.
The organisation was also billed as ‘not in good standing’ by the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers – part of the Department of Justice in California, the state where the Duke and Duchess live in a £12million mansion and operate the charity.
The registry said Archewell failed to properly submit its annual report or renewal fees and has banned it from either fundraising or distributing charitable funds for now.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand for God Save The King in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 11
Meghan smiles as she receives flowers during a sitting volleyball match in Abuja on May 11
But Sussex sources claimed today that the ‘delinquency notice’ was actually issued because Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office did not process the $200 cheque.
This was a different explanation to the one offered by the same Sussex sources last night, who claimed that the paperwork was filed on time but the discrepancy was down to a cheque which accompanied the documents going missing in the post.
Sussex sources told MailOnline this morning that the Archewell Foundation’s tax filings for 2022 were submitted in full in accordance with all regulations in the US, which was widely reported in the media last December – including by this website.
They said the California state filing, renewal and required payment were sent and delivered to the Attorney General’s office via tracked mail, and received on time.
However, the delinquency notice was then issued on May 3 because the cheque had not been processed by the Attorney General’s Office, according to the sources.
Meghan listens to speakers at a Women in Leadership event in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 11
Until Archewell Foundation officials could confirm the tracked mail and receive acknowledgment of receipt, they assumed that the cheque had been lost in the mail – hence the initial explanation, which has now turned out to be false.
MailOnline also understands that the Department of Justice will issue a statement later today with further clarification on the matter.
The $200 cheque was for an annual registration renewal fee, which is determined by a sliding scale based on an organisation’s total revenue.
In Archewell’s case, its most recent revenue was about $2million – putting it within the ‘between $1,000,001 and $5 million’ section of the sliding scale.
The $200 figure has been confirmed to MailOnline by a source close to the Sussexes.
It comes as Harry and Meghan were yesterday flying back from their high profile three-day visit to Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria that was dubbed a royal tour in all but name.
Prince Harry is welcomed to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 10
Meghan takes a selfie with pupils with Harry behind at Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10
During the trip the Sussexes announced a partnership between the Archewell Foundation and the Geanco Foundation, a charity in Nigeria which leads surgical missions, promotes maternal health and provides scholarships to young female victims of terrorism.
The Archewell Foundation is a non-profit organisation created by Harry and Meghan when they moved to the US after stepping down as senior royals in 2020.
On its website, it says its mission is to ‘show up, do good’, adding: ‘We meet the moment by showing up, taking action and using our unparalleled spotlight to uplift and unite communities – local and global – through acts of service and compassion.’
The foundation is separate from the couple’s Archewell media and business divisions which have been involved in the Netflix and Spotify productions.
It follows Harry and Meghan’s visit to Nigeria from Friday until Sunday to promote mental health for soldiers and empower young people.
A delinquency notice letter was sent to the Archewell Foundation on May 3 saying the charity is ‘listed as delinquent’ for ‘failing to submit required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees’
The couple were invited to the West African nation by its military, and attended events related to Harry’s Invictus Games, which Nigeria is seeking to host in future.
The couple were also welcomed at the Lagos State Government House and met military officials at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
According to tax filings disclosed by Archewell last December, the organisation had suffered an $11million (£9million) decline in donations in 2022 compared to the previous year.
The records showed that the charity received just over $2million (£1.6million) in charitable donations in 2022 compared to $13million (£10million) in 2021.
And while in 2021 Archewell had reported a revenue of more than $9million (£7million), the December 2023 filings showed that by 2022 it had recorded a loss of more than $674,000 (£537,000) due to costs of $2.67million (£2.13million).
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